her house maid had come back after visiting another home near eastern market. he was outside on his phone for privacy. the suspect walked up and said empty your pockets and not to the cell phone out of his hand. a second suspect can between two parked cars and pointed a handgun at him and both suspects knocked him into the ground and kicked and punched the 26-year- old in his face. >> he has some cuts and bruises and his lip was puffy. >> it looked like he had been beat up. >> the suspects got away. detectives are already looking for a silver for carbon. -- four door car. the case has the entire neighborhood on and. >> we have a false sense of

security that we live in a safe area. we have to pay attention. >> police are looking at these cases to see if there are related. if you have information, contact d.c. police. >> we will have more on this story as well as coverage of the other attack near eastern market on our website. we are on storm watch yet again. >> a little bit of heavy rain in some areas this afternoon. is there more on the way? we have an early look at the forecast. >> we do have some heavy downpours in parts of the area. parleypartly sunny and warm and humid. the area moving eastward is one area of showers and downpours

we're keeping an eye on. further west where coming across the appalachians. a much larger area where the cold front. we will keep an eye on that and see of that affects us late tonight or early morning. a half inch of rain. very warm and humid. check out these numbers. 91 in frederick. 86 in the nation's capital. with the humidity it feels like it is 95 in the district. more in a few minutes. >> we turn to day two of the democratic national convention. the big event is the president's speech. they're concerned about bad weather so the president will no longer speak at bank of america stadium. thousands of your people will be able to attend but tonight another big name will take the podium. good evening. >> it take a 70,000 seat outdoor

stadium in the middle of hurricane season indoors 20,000 people. it will not have people sitting them. >> conspiracy theories abound on this one. >> the delegates and various news. bull -- newspeople and vendors were talking about michelle obama. >> the likability gap which was substantial before she spoke probably doubled. she was such a likable force and she did such a good job explaining how her husband is still the same guy he always was and a great family man. >> scheeler audience and rocked the house and it was clever. she never said the word romney but she took it to him. >> how did you like the speech? >> that it was for her heart. she remains to average americans and working families.

she understands their problems. i thought it was exactly what i wanted to hear and what americans want to hear. >> senator ben cardin of maryland. bill clinton tonight. >> we have talked about the relationship between the former president and the current one. it was described as a bit i see. that is to say the least. it has changed for the better of the party. these men may not be sharing the stage on the same night but they are sharing the spotlight. the president is primed for his big night but not just yet. there is another headliner in town whose speech might still a bit of the president's thunder. >> president clinton for sure. >> speaking of thunder, more proof the parties will fight over anything. even the weather. democrats are moving president obama's bixby to endorse to avoid possible severe weather

thursday. republicans insist it was because there were not enough, supporters to fill all 73,000 seats. >> i think that the 65,000 people who would be disappointed that they will not able to see the president tomorrow night will disagree with those numbers. >> he is moving into more comfortable, smaller confine spread the next up is a phone booth. >> you do not think it is the weather. >> whether or not people would show up. >> the focus on issues, the economy and not just from clinton. the owner of port city brewing co. will sing the praises of how the recovery act helped finance his thriving company. >> i am here to tell our story and a very -- in a small way. a small part of the recovery act helped our business. >> also sandra will highlight her mission for a woman's

choice. >> i tried to get people's records when i vote because that is what i am trying to make clear is what their records are. >> back to the issue of those people who will no longer get to see the president as originally intended in a much larger setting. they will be part of a conference call where the president will directly address them tomorrow. >> you do not want to see a lot of empty seats when the president makes his address. you do not want to see people sitting there with ponchos and umbrellas. it is not the redskins vs. the cowboys. >> good point. thank you scott and gordon will be in charlotte tomorrow night and they will have live reports for us at 5, 6, and 11. >> now to a developing story in arlington where people say a worker was electrocuted on a construction site. it happened at 1:45 p.m. this afternoon in the 2200 block of

north pershing drive. the man was in his mid-twenties and working on an electrical panel. osha is investigating. no information on the train derailment that killed two college students in ellicott city. the estimated cost of damages to $0.20 million. it does not state a cause for the accident. the report notes that weather did not appear to be the factor in the train was posted -- traveling at the posted speed limit. >> more details released about the scare at reagan national airport. controllers flew three planes to close to each other. this was on july 31. some controllers were rattled following that there collision. there might have been a communications mixup over whether related -- weather related flight changes. >> more accusations from an

employee of john leopold. she is not the first to make these kinds of claims. we have more on this latest accusation and another -- an interview with another accuser. >> that is right. three women have made charges under oath that john leopold harass them in the workplace. the accuser is not yet a plaintiff but she gave a sworn deposition in support of lawsuit brought by two other women and we did talk to one of those planes in she says the new charges indicate her. >> just waiting. >> the latest charges against john leopold prove her claims of harassment she said. >> what it says to me is all the charges that the women have proclaimed in public and in court are very credible. this is reality. these things really did happen.

>> he is a predator. >> the latest allegations come from carla sagerholm. she describes a toxic environment in his office. she backs of claims that harris was targeted for firing and a 67-year-old leopold use binoculars from his fourth floor office to ogle women walking into the county office building. >> he is a man who is constantly on the hunt. quex apart from the civil lawsuits leopold is facing criminal charges he used his police detail to, among other things, drive the executive to romantic rendezvous is in a mall parking lot. voters we spoke to have mixed feelings. >> where there's smoke, there's fire. >> your surewest be proven guilty and it does not always work that way. i think he should be proven

guilty. >> there is no ambiguity for john harris. -- joan harris. >> a spokesman said he will not comment on these allegations. >> tonight, the district is facing a dilemma. things are lopsided. some schools have too many students. others aren't nearly empty. there is an effort to entice teachers to help even things out. d.c. public schools announced a new program called left. enticing dumbestthe highest qualified teachers. students in the poorest neighborhoods have fled to the charter's in droves while at the same time in the affluent nw, public schools have had to bring in trailers, they have so many

students. from wilson to elementary schools, enrollment in d.c. public schools located in predominantly white ward 3 have not suffered declines. >> there is a lot of families with kids to want to be in the city. >> parents. about the higher public education. the story is so different in the black for southeast. there is a huge school which currently has fewer than 300 students. is there a shortage of kids in this neighborhood? two blocks away, it is pre kit through 12. there are 1200 students from this neighborhood melee but many others and another 1200 on waiting lists to get in. >> we find that parents are looking for quality seeds and quality schools and unfortunately there is not enough of those in the city. we were -- we are doing

everything we can to increase our enrollment. >> they have special and tutors to help them keep up. all the schools are supported with public money. belfer have great differences in the achievement and perception. >> people remembering the real value of sending your kids to your local school and being part of the community. >> as of last year, the chargers had 40% of the d.c. public school students and the heart -- the hope is that this lift program will stem the erosion. >> thank you. much more ahead on abc 7 news at 5:00 p.m. including why people in one community thought the sky was falling. some people are worried for their safety. >> a local landmark comes under question. it has been there for years. some say across that honors the war dead needs to go.

>> the tornado strikes in an unusual place. see the mess left behind after strong storms were across the east coast. >> and 83-year-old woman who fought off a rabid beaver tells us president clinton: this election to me is about which... candidate is more likely to rern us to full employment. this is a r clear choice. the republican plan is to cut more taxes on upper-income... people and go back to deregulation. that's what got us in trouble in the first place. president obama has a plan to rebuild america from... the ground up, investing in innovation, education... and job training. it only works if there is a strong middle class. that's what happened when i was president. we need to keep going with his plan. president obama: i'm barack obama and... i approve this message.

anncr: it'll start out as concrete and steel... but it'll becol me so much more. a new world-class resort casino in prince george's county. two thousand construction jobs to

build it. four thousand perment, good-paying jobs when it's done. hundreds of millions for maryland schools... real oversight to make sure the money goes... where it's supposed to. but none of it will happen unless vote for question seven. and help build a better future for maryland.

x and frightening attack on an elderly woman at a fairfax county late. >> the 83-year-old woman was wearing when she was attacked by a beaver. the victim is talking only with abc 7 about this ordeal. she was released from a hospital tonight. >> and adults adult beaver can bring down a tree with its teeth. she was mauled for several minutes. this was a horrifying ordeal. an 83-year-old woman swimming last night suddenly encountered a vicious beaver. this is the beaver that came and let's talk to her with its teeth. peterson describes what happened next. >> he attacked me.

>> he latched on to mike kanof. there's a place that big that he chewed up. >> mike corn was across the lake. " she was screaming for her life. >> after corn got the beaver off peterson, she left. the beaver was tested positive for rabies. >> never in the world that i expect anything like this. am i going to swim there anymore. >> we spoke with a number of people who say they do not plan on swimming there any time soon. officials here are asking residents of that neighborhood to keep their eyes open for sick or injured animals.

>> the national weather service has confirmed a tornado touched down in southern new jersey. we have a dramatic cell phone video of that tornado forming last night during the height of the storm. strong and swirling wind uprooted trees and sean "diddy" combs. no injuries were reported. -- >> the get them occasionally. the with the weather has been lately -- the way the weather has been lately. we are 10 degrees warmer than the actual temperature. let's say you started. we will give you a look outside. some sunshine and clouds. we do not see is the heat and humidity combining to make it so uncomfortable outside on this september afternoon.

there are showers and storms but it may break the heat for some. the best chances will be south of washington. 90's in germantown. not much or breeze out there. -- of a breeze out there. some cloud cover west of the metro area. showers have been moving in the same track, moving through areas near culpeper county and they're drifting toward the i-95 corridor. during the evening, and the storm activity will stay south of the area. there are few more showers across the appalachians. this is back behind the system stretching from southwestern ohio and southwest through louisville. this whole thing, computer models are diminishing this but we will keep a close eye on it. bob ryan will keep a close eye

on it. we will keep an eye on that. tomorrow there could be a chance of showers. this will lead up to a pattern changed. 85 in washington. 86 in raleigh. the local humidity levels make it uncomfortable. it feels like it is 93 in the nation's capital because the heat and humidity have combined. more sunshine in recent days. a big blow break here and that is where most of the clouds and showers have been. you see the track moving from west to east and a new area. all this will move through. we have ourselves in a situation where we get toward the weekend.

hurricane hunters may go out tomorrow afternoon. there is a leftover cluster that may have developed on the outflow from hurricane isaac. if this develops topically it will become nadine. the front is moving through and as we get through the day tomorrow, that isolated shower will hang in there because cooler and drier days are ahead. partly cloudy and some patchy fog. partly cloudy and humid. highs in the lower 90's. right now in the game for showers and storms. look at the temperatures. cool and dry and a taste of autumn just ahead. >> something to look forward to. >> we have a look at your wednesday night on primetime. we will begin with two hours of comedy is. -- compaedies.

at ten, night 2 of the democratic national convention and in hope -- we hope you'll join us for abc news 11. >> how some horses are making -- helping kids make some strides. >> it might sound strange but mcdonald's is going vegetarian. not around here. we will show you where it is happening. >> trees are being cut down along the green mile. it is in the same area that has been debated about. the

>> we are following some breaking news for you. we're live over the scene of a stabbing. a 17-year-old northwestern high

student was starstabbed. that team was taken to the hospital. another student is accused in the stabbing. we will follow this breaking news for you and have more throughout the evening. a busy day for tree cutting crews in chevy chase today. >> crews have been out and about removing a number of decayed trees. this is part of an effort to make road safer in the committee. natasha barrackett has more. >> this is the green mile along wisconsin avenue where there is a battle between people who live here and officials with the state because a planned sidewalk is coming but that would mean more than 100 trees need to be removed. these trees that are being cut down our for another reason. every tree that is marked had to go. five large elm trees.

the state highway administration says the trees are damaged and could be dangerous. >> i have seen one tree hanging over the road and i have wondered what is going on. some trees have long branches hanging over the road. others have been struck several times by cars and are too close to power lines. >> i look there overover there all the time but it will not go there. it is not safe. >> a large dead tree fell onto a car and killed the driver on georgetown pike. brokers want to prevent another similar accident. >> i drive up and down the street all the with my kids. >> they're relieved over the tree removal. >> this is a good thing. i am fine with it. >> we're talking about beside trees that need to be removed

for people's safety. back to the one ordered 40 trees that are still in the air what will happen with the removal. if it were -- if it will happen for that planned the sidewalk. >> coming up, keeping a minor- league baseball team in place. not everyone is in agreement about where a new stadium should go. >> see what local thieves are targeting these days. >> military parts falling from the sky? that is what one family says happened in their montgomery county backyard.

i'm barack obama, and i approve this message. mitt romney's position on women's health...it's dangerous. vo:mitt romney and paul ryan woulwoget rid of planned parenthood funding. and allow employers to deny coverage f cancer screenings and birth control. we can't afford to let him take away our choices... to take awayasic health care. vo: both backed proposals to outlaw abortions...even in cases of rape and incest. i don't think that women's health issues haveve faced a crisis like this in decades.

anncr: it'll start out as concrete and steel... but it'll become so much more. a new world-class resort casino in prince george's county. two thousand construction jobs to build it. four thousand perment, good-paying jobs when it's done. hundreds of millions for maryland schools... real oversight to make sure the ney goes... where it's supposed to. but none of it will happen unless we vote for... question seven this november. vote for question seven. and help build a better future for maryland. that fridge in your kitchen may have crossed this bridge. your new car probably rode these rails. that shipment you just received was tracked by satellite. we build and maintain.

we invest and innovate. so w we can deliver what america needs. this year alone, freight rail companies plan to spend twenty-three billion of their own money, not taxpayer dollars, to build bridges, maiaintain track, and develop new technologies to keep freight rail and our economy moving. there's a lot riding on these rails. >> you're watching abc 7 news at 5:00 p.m. on your side. craftspeople in the maryland community are watching the sky not for storms but for military planes flying over their neighborhood. >> one family says a piece of an aircraft came falling down into

their yard. rebecca cooper is following this developing story. >> residents are used to having to check their yards for roxanne tree limbs before they mow the grass. they're not used to checking for military parts that might fall from the sky. it was here in their persimmon tree lane backyard that there are putting in new plants. >> there was something there that did not look like it belonged. >> it looks like some kind of aviation parts that smell the fresh petroleum. it was not from one of the helicopters. after finding a website, this is the fuel filter cap that has been known to fall off aircraft. they contacted authorities. >> we got a visit from the faa

and the minute the faa guy looked at it he said this is military. >> how did get in their yard and who will take responsibility to make sure it does not happen again? it could have caused serious injury of and hit someone. >> this guy said if this military -- is military, you'll never get any follow-up. you will never follow up. >> i am concerned it might happen again. who could have thought this would happen period? >> the family said that no response initially. they did not -- they contacted their neighborhood newspaper. once the gazette contacted the faa someone showed up to get the part. >> time for a look at the other

top stories. we're learning more about an attack in eastern market that put a man in the hospital with brain injuries. we have obtained the police report and it happened early yesterday morning on north carolina avenue. investigators are looking at similarities between this attack and another reason 1. >> john leopold is facing new charges of misconduct in office. county police officers say that he personally ordered the firing of in -- employee after she complained about his unwanted sexual advances. >> it is day two of the democratic national convention. bill clinton-organizers hope that bill clinton will deliver. >> the team is in shalit. >> good to see if there in

charlotte. you have an interview with caroline kennedy tonight. >> great to see you, too. we will be talking with caroline kennedy. she was a face for the obama campaign, campaigning with oprah and maria shriver. we ask her if she is inspired as she said she was four years ago. you'll see what she has to say. >> you also have something that will inspire online bargain hunters. timing is everything. >> everyone is doing back-to- school shopping. if you wait one minute you can be -- it can save you up to $100. we'll get to the bottom of this after your broadcast. >> we will see again. those stories and more tonight after abc 7 news at 6:00 p.m. >> for many, the allure of a luxury car can be tempting. for car thieves, it is about practicality like a minivan.

in maryland, the dodge caravan is the most stolen car. it is the fifth most stolen vehicle in maryland. the top five is a rearranged version with one important difference. locally, there are model toyota camry is our being stolen. that is the sign that the staff found a way around the key codes. >> we're seeing some heavy delays heading southbound on 95 crossing over and extensive delays continues through south of county. that is 15 miles worth of delays. the otter look -- outer looks good. when lanes to the left and three

lanes to the right getting by. 270 spur coming off the beltway , an accident reported near montrose road. back to you. >> a new warning from doctors about heart attacks. see why you could have one and not even know it and the consequences for a so-called silent heart attacks as well. >> she is taking a big bite. >> wait until you see how these horses are teaching special needs children to speak. >> a new wrinkle in the aftermath of hurricane is it. the impact the storm is having on one industry in the g

special needs children who cannot speak are learning to speak with the help of forces. the northern virginia riding association. >> there is a special place.

>> good morning. >> where special children can spread their wings and fly. >> ok, tell us. >> is there is no ordinary therapeutic -- this is no ordinary therapeutic riding program. >> it is motivating for the kids. much better than sitting in a therapy room. >> to help the children with their language and cognitive skills, she must strengthen their muscles and motor skills and that is where the horses come in. >> you have to have balance and motor planning. >> my daughter has low muscle tone. pet -- makes speech and fine

motor difficult. >> michael never got excited about going to therapy until this program. >> without the many volunteers, three for every rider this program would not be possible. >> can you believe the smiles? for more information log on to wjla.com. if you have any ideas for a story, drop as an e-mail. >> they seem so happy. that is great. thank you. >> mcdonald's goes vegetarian?

>> i do not find it necessary. >> a local landmark that is in the middle of a major controversy. why when group says

>> the town isthere is another battle brewing their 200 years later. >> it is over another landmark. and national groups says it is unconstitutional. >> you cannot missedmiss it. to many, a familiar landmark. >> the ps cross put up by the american -- peace cross put by the american legion, it is now under attack. >> it is owned by the government. that is sending a message that christianity is preferred.

>> the american humanist association says having a religious symbol on land owned by the national maryland park violates the constitution. >> i would like them to take down the cross. >> park and planning is reviewing and had no comment. >> it is a slap in the face to veterans. it were not press it would not have a right to protest. >> the cross symbolizes sacrifice, the vets say. >> just turn your head. it takes to second -- two seconds to get past it and you are not offended any more. >> atheists and humanist groups are mounting more challenges nationwide. with mixed results. american atheists are suing to remove a steel cross that was salvaged from the world trade center from the 9/11 memorial.

the cross honoring veterans can stay. >> those who are not believers are more willing to step forward. there will be a controversy about this. >> he is ready to fight. >> it does not -- is not a religious symbol. it is a memorial to the veterans who served. >> the american humanist association says it is giving the park and planning commission two weeks to respond and if the cross does not come down, it will take them to court. >> we have a new study that finds 17% of senior citizens have had a silent heart attack and might not know it. those who have suffered a heart attack are 10 more -- 10 times more likely to have a heart problem in the future. symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea. heart disease of the -- is the

number one cause of death in the united states. >> the nfl has pledged $30 million for medical research at the nih. doctors will examine brain injuries. it is designed to benefit athletes, service members, and the general population. >> mcdonald's is about to open up to restaurants that do not have big macs or chicken mcnuggets on the menu. the vegetarian restaurants are opening in india and will be the first that do not serve me. it can breathe a sigh of relief. they're in india. the spicey paneer is on the menu. >> good to see you.

>> let's take a look. we have changes in the washington airport authority. after reports of lavish spending. a big decision was made today about the travel policy for members of the board and that is not all. gretza cruz attended the meeting and she will have a breakdown on what is to come. >> let's see what is happening weather-wise. >> it is warm and humid. conditions will continue through the evening. 85 right now that reagan national airport. 86 in frederick. you factor in the moisture and the humidity and dew point calculation, it feels somewhat warmer. it feels like 95 in gaithersburg.

here is the latest raid. they win the award for the most number of storms. the big line of storms developing along the front from cincinnati southward to national, we will monitor that. we will keep a close eye and see if they can effect parts of the area. leslie is a hurricane and it will have a dramatic effect on bermuda. meanwhile, the gulf of mexico very faint leftovers from hurricane isaac. our weather is warm and muggy..

that is the latest. back to you. >> the nfl kicks of the citizen -- of the season tonight. they got some bad news today. he has a sprained knee. there -- mike shanahan said he is comfortable with the death as they went through their normal wednesday worked out. it was definitely a sense that this was game week. >> the redskins ran drills with a heightened sense of awareness as they gear up for their season opener against new orleans. >> there is a sense of urgency. do not want to start the season off with a loss. you want to start putting a things right now. >> everybody wants to go out and show this is what i have got.

it is less about you and more about the team. you can see that and say it is a huge cliche but it is true. if you try to do too much, it will mess up. >> after this, they're playing under a new head coach and possibly a new offense but that disadvantage my work in their favor. >> i know that there will be behind them. >> the redskins were 5-11 last year and have several wide receivers. they want a clean slate. >> we want to go in and put it together. >> the nationals play the cubs again tonight at the ballpark with 26 games remaining in the regular season. we're counting the days, measuring the magic numbers.

folks can hit. i will break that down for you in sports at 6:00 p.m. >> we will be right back.

? there is a pricey effort to keep baseball in the city of hagerstown. >> this comes in the form of a donation. >> it is cool that someone would step up and do that. >> hours before they host their first playoff game at their nearly 100-year-old stadium, many in town are trying to guess who the mystery donor is, giving the city of $15 million check for the construction of a new ballpark. >> no idea. >> the daughter would pay for half the stadium and wishes --

the donor who is paying for half the students -- the stadium wishes to remain anonymous. >> people are interested in this project. >> of this donation may have saved the team. the city has been debating with the ball club which is affiliated with the nationals. the agreement runs out at the end of the year. >> were told you need to -- need a cal ripken. >> this contribution would be the largest for a project in the state, may be the country. >> and very humble and kind individual. >> many residents are grateful but would like to see it stay at of downtown. >> there is too much congestion for locals. >> this is not a high profile

celebrity and he assures the city he will not sell the naming rights. he wants to name it after someone who passed away close to him. someone who was very well known in hagerstown. rex that is all for abc 7 news at 5:00 p.m. abc 7 news at 6:00 p.m. starts now. >> live and in hd. this is abc 7 news at 6:00 p.m. on your side. >> bill clinton will speak tonight in charlotte. >> that is one of the headlines coming out of the democratic national convention. let's go to charlotte right now and see gordon peterson and our political reporter. a lot going on down there. >> i said we were in charleston at 5:00 p.m. they have not moved the convention. >>